Ted Poe (b. September 10, 1948) is a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the state of Texas. Poe serves the 2nd congressional district of Texas. He was first elected to the House in 2004. He ran for re-election in 2012.

Biography

After receiving his bachelor's degree from Abilene Christian University, Poe served in the U.S. Air Force Reserves for six years. During that time, he also earned his J.D. from the University of Houston and started his career as a district attorney.[3] He went on to serve as county judge for over 20 years, and earned a reputation for his unique sentences.[4]

Issues

House Judiciary Committee

Congressman Poe was first appointed to the House Judiciary Committee in 2009 and is currently serving in his second term on the committee.[7]. The Congressman serves on the House Judiciary Subcommittees on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security[8] and on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law[9]

Specific votes

Fiscal Cliff

Poe voted against the fiscal cliff compromise bill, which made permanent most of the Bush tax cuts originally passed in 2001 and 2003 while also raising tax rates on the highest income levels. He was one of 151 Republicans that voted against the bill. The bill was passed in the House by a 257/167 vote on January 1, 2013.[10]

Analysis

Congressional Staff Salaries

The website Legistorm compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Poe paid his congressional staff a total of $867,427 in 2011. Overall, Texas ranks 27th in average salary for representative staff. The average U.S. House of Representatives congressional staff was paid $954,912.20 in fiscal year 2011.[16]

Net worth

2011

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org - The Center for Responsive Politics, Poe's net worth as of 2011 was estimated between $103,014 to $570,999. That averages to $337,006, which is lower than the average net worth of Republican House members in 2011 of $7,859,232. His average net worth increased by 146.88% from 2010.[17]

2010

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org - The Center for Responsive Politics, Poe's net worth as of 2010 was estimated between $-21,985 to $294,999. That averages to 146.88%, which is lower than the average net worth of Republican Representatives in 2010 of $7,561,133.[18]

National Journal vote ratings

2011

Each year National Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of congress voted in the previous year. Poe was tied with one other member of the U.S. House of Representatives, ranking 60th in the conservative rankings among members of the U.S. House.[19]

Percentage voting with party

November 2011

Poe voted with the Republican Party 91.9% of the time, which ranked 144 among the 242 House Republican members as of November 2011.[20]